Govt to improve quality of services sector<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to improve its performance in the
\nservices sector, which currently lags behind other industrial
\nsectors, a government minister said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief pointed to countries like
\nSingapore and the United States as countries to be imitated for
\ntheir strong services sector.<\/p>\n
"Despite lacking major commodity industries of its own,
\nSingapore, for instance, excels in the service sector," he said,
\nadding that it was time for Indonesia to do the same,
\nparticularly in the export of its work force abroad.<\/p>\n
"We are studying this and trying to improve the quality of
\nthis sector. It is a very strategic sector," said Latief after
\nmeeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Latief then unveiled a plan in which the government, together
\nwith various professional organizations, would undertake to boost
\nthe ability of the Indonesian work force so that it can also
\nexcel in this field.<\/p>\n
One of the first steps is to hold a national meeting of
\nprofessional organizations some time next month. The gathering of
\ndoctors, public accountants, lawyers, nurses, architects, seamen,
\nand engineers will be opened by President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"We'll boost this sector of service," he said, citing
\njournalists, too, as professionals who need to improve their
\nservice and ability.<\/p>\n
"Why aren't any of our journalists working at CNN (Cable News
\nNetwork) for instance, why don't our cameramen become cameramen
\nat the BBC (British Broadcasting Cooperation) if their ability is
\nreally good enough," he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from discussing the service sector, Latief yesterday
\nsaid that his ministry is also considering establishing a
\nconsultancy firm to aid Indonesian graduates returning from
\nabroad seek employment.<\/p>\n
"The issue of employment at home was one of the questions
\nfrequently posed when I met with Indonesian students on my recent
\ntrip to San Francisco," he said.<\/p>\n
"There's a possibility that the Ministry of Manpower will
\nprepare a section in its offices to establish a consultancy for
\nboth our foreign and locally educated graduates," he remarked.<\/p>\n
Latief's trip to San Francisco was part of an extended foreign
\ntour in which he also went to Japan and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Latief said there are currently 3,388 Indonesians undergoing
\nwork training in Japan. This number is expected to triple in the
\nnear future to about 10,000.<\/p>\n
While in Saudi Arabia, Latief said, he found that many
\nIndonesians were working there using their visas obtained for
\numrah, the minor haj pilgrimage. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-improve-quality-of-services-sector-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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